Slow Progress

Well, it's been very slow this last week or so. I simply don't have the time to devote at the moment. Gardening activities and work have left me little time to think about the car. I also suffer from a condition called psoriasis that is aggressive on my hands and feet. At the moment I am having a rather flaky attack on my palms as happens occasionally and it needs a few weeks to settle down. I need a couple of weeks in the sun and that generally makes it regress for a while. Roll on Magaluf!



It's close but it doesn't touch!

I received the remote oil filter kit I ordered from Merlin Motorsport Friday and it goes on OK. The steering shaft turns without touching the take off, JUST! It would seem to have a little bend in it as it moves away and then back as the shaft is rotated. It turns above the highest part of the take off blanking plate so isn't really as bad as the photo looks. I still have the option of a shorter steering shaft that will move the upper uj fulcrum down and the shaft away from the engine slightly. I'll see what happens when the engines running and moving on the mounts, it may not be necessary. I just need to decide where to put the remote filter and there is a handy bracket under the bits of wood I used to support the body where it looks to be OK.

As I mentioned its slow as I want to get on with the seats, so I can set the steering column and scuttle and then finish the electrics off. All this means another rather large cash payout that I don't have at the moment. I need seats, battery and lights but they will have to wait a little as holidays are looming. I have tickets with a couple of mates to go see Metallica at Wembley in July but as we've just found out it's on the same weekend as that ridiculous earth concert that's trying to save the planet. The need for some accommodation has just got a bit urgent as we don't want to leave it to the last minute and get caught out.

Originally i was using ZZR1100 carbs but an opportunity for some R1 carbs with a Blogg brothers manifold so I'm waiting for them before I start work on the engine.

12th April.

Picked my tunnel cover up this morning and had a poke around the cars. Anyway lots of action at MNR this morning with Marc off to see about getting married so i was inspired, that, with marriage in mind he still had time to give me advise and solutions to some of my problems.
It seems I have a fairly unique build with the zetec and drum brakes so its time to get the thinking cap on and spend some time and cash getting my install to be well engineered to my own liking.
No progress this week due to being miles away on work commitments but I will be ordering oil remote filter stuff and getting stuck in trying to get the engine to run.
Just one small problem.. I've fitted the transmission dry, ie no fluids in the engine, box or diff and I cant get at the gearbox plug because of the bulkhead. Its over to Locostbuilders to see if I can fill it through the gearstick hole!

6th April.

Nice sunny day today, 2 hours sunbathing this morning and time to crack on. Her indoors doesn't want to go out anywhere so I can get on with it.

I've sorted the rear brake hose problem by fitting little ali brackets to the inside and running the brake pipe in loop to meet it. That way I didn't need to alter the brake pipe length or have to reflare the end. The result is neat and looks quite good with the hose now well out of the way of the wheel and all the suspension bits and pieces.



I also attached the front hoses and torqued the wishbones up. In fact being quite inspired I've fitted the exhaust and carbs for a photo opportunity and its lifted me a fair bit.

One of the helpful guys on locostbuilders has had the same fitting problems as me with a zetec engine so I don't feel as all alone as I did before. He has some pictures that will help me get round the issues. The forum is really an outstanding source of knowledge and problem solving. When you can just go to the pc with problems and get instance responces and support it makes you feel like your not alone. I thank you all very much.

I bought a really small oil filter the other day and had a go this afternoon. Despite being only 55m tall it still touches the steering shaft. However, I'm not too down heartened as I think a remote filter will go in and I'd much rather have a full size filter anyway.

5th April.

Lovely weather predicted for the next few days, even if I did scrape ice off the windscreen this morning! Still a bit soon for the tomatoes in the greenhouse!

Rattling on with the rear brakes, new cylinders that fit, just puzzling over how all the levers and springs go together. Its months since I took them to bits and chucked them in an old paint bucket! The manual gives a clue but is not clear and generally a bit confusing.

New cylinders, shoes, cable and fittings. All together I had to pull the handbrake cable slack to stop it jumping off the shoe and the drums were a real struggle to get on. Its hard to push the bloody thing now as well but I'm sure they will slacken up once bedded in.

I want to get the brakes full of fluid and bled before Saturday so I drilled a hole in the side panel were the brake pipe ends on the other side. Once I'd screwed the union on I could see the danger. The brake pipe runs far too close to the tyre and I'm sure it will touch in flight. I'm thinking of a 90deg adapter there or a bracket on the inside that will move the pipe away from the wheel completely.

I reckon once I get some Carlos Fandago boolers on they will defiantly clash. A certain failure point for Mr. SVA.

Hopefully I will see a lot happen over the next four days as I've tidied the wiring and attached the fusebox to the scuttle hoop. I need to order a battery! I keep telling myself but I'm resisting the cost!!